Health Professions E-NEWS

A Message from the Executive Vice President, Provost and
Dean, School of Medicine

I am very pleased to announce that Elizabeth J. Protas, PT, PhD, FACSM, FAPTA, Vice President and Dean of the School of Health Professions, George T. Bryan Distinguished Professor, and Senior Fellow in the Sealy Center on Aging, was recently elected a member of the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) Board of Trustees for a three year term. USRA is an independent, nonprofit research corporation and engages the creativity and authoritative expertise of the research community to advance space science and technology. As part of USRA's governance structure, 105 PhD granting universities oversee USRA to ensure that it meets its public purpose. University members elect an independent Board of Directors (known as the Board of Trustees) which governs USRA.

A sought-after expert, Dr. Protas' election to the USRA Board of Trustees reflects the high esteem in which she is held as a distinguished and leading member of the research community. Her research interests include geriatrics, rehabilitation of adults with stroke, Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injury. She has an impressive list of publications and conference presentations on exercise and rehabilitation in movement disorders and injury. Dr. Protas has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Foundation for Physical Therapy. She has held leadership roles in a number of scientific and professional organizations including the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). She has worked with the ACSM regarding effective management of debilitating injuries or conditions, serving as a member of the Board of Trustees and as Past President and Former Executive Director of the Texas Regional Chapter. She was a member of the NASA Bone, Muscle, and Exercise Integrated Product Team and Clinical Status Evaluation Exercise Team. Dr. Protas has received numerous honors and awards during her career, most recently the 2010 Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Society of Allied Health Professions.